Etymologically
Log in

Semo

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the Latin word Semo

Confidence
Disputed
First attested
59 BC–17 AD, Livy

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈseː.moː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈsɛː.mo][1]

Forms

Sēmō m sg (genitive Sēmōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

The origin is disputed.[1] It has traditionally been related to sēmen (“seed”),[2][3][1] but Weiss rejects the link as implausible in meaning, since nothing ties the god to seeds.[1] Osthoff and Weiss each proposed instead a derivation from Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ-ó- (“powerful”), through Proto-Italic *Seɣomō, which would connect Semo with the Celtic god Segomo.[1] Mommsen explained the name from sē- and homō, “not human”.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The archaic hymn of the Arval Brothers, known from an inscription, calls on the Semunes in the plural.[2][4] Among authors, Livy and Ovid use Semo as an epithet of Sancus.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

In the singular it is almost always joined with Sancus: Semo Sancus was perhaps at first a Sabine hero, later a god of oaths identified with Dius Fidius and Hercules.[6] L&S describe the Semones as an ancient god who watched over the crops.[2] Georges glosses it as a divine being, half-god or god, and Martianus Capella mentions the Semones;[4] Gaffiot calls Semo Sancus a god of a lower order.[5] Döderlein explains semo as a half-man, beside semideus, a half-god.[7]

Timeline

  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy names Semo Sancus.[2][5][3]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses Semo as an epithet of Sancus.[2][5][3]
  • 5th century AD – Martianus Capella speaks of the Semones.[4][3]

Meanings

Proper noun

  1. (Old Latin) An ancient god or half-god; in the plural, Sēmōnēs, the gods so called.[2][4][1]
  2. An epithet of Sancus, in Sēmō Sancus.[6][2][1]
  • Sancus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
Cite this entry

“Semo.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/Semo. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·